Gas mask



May 3, 1938. A. v. MoTslNGER GAS MASK Filed Fb. 1o, 1957 ,15th/enfer A r mand V Mots/infer Patented May 3, 1938 2,116,492 -cas MASK Armand V. MotSinger,-Aberdeen, Md.

Application February 10, 193.7,.Serial No. 125,082

l Claims. (Cl. 12S- 141) (Granted under the act of Maren s, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928;4 370 O. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmentalpurposes, without the payment to me of4 any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a gas mask and more particularly to a military gasmask having an air purifying canister supported on one shoulder of the wearer.

One object of this inventionis to so support the air purifying canister that it is comfortable, does not interfere with body movements, does not pull on the gas mask facepiece tothus allow leakage around the edges, and is readily adjustable to position when the mask is put on.

Various other objects of the invention will be understood from the following description, claims and drawing wherein p Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the mask and canister in position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the left side. Fig. 3 is a front view of the castingffor connecting the inlet tube and outlet valve to the gas mask.

Fig. 4 is a, perspective view of the canister. Referring to the drawing, the gas mask facepiece I has eyepieces 2 therein and web straps 3 secured thereto'to hold the facepiece on they head of the wearer, each strap having a buckle for adjusting tension. Straps 3 are preferably elastic webbing to maintain the facepiece pressed in airtight engagement with the face of the wearer.

Positioned centrally of the facepiece adjacent i the nose and mouth of the wearer is a metal casting 4 having a downwardly curved outlet 5 to which an exhalation flutter valve 6 is secured. Casting 4 .also has an integral inlet nipple 1 which is curved downwardly and to one side and has secured thereto a corrugated rubber hose 8. Hose 8 isv connected to an air purifying canister 9 which is cylindrical and has an air inlet opening i I`I in one end.

Canister 9 contains the necessary chemicals and fllterto extract poisonous and irritating dusts and gases from the air. 'I'he canister is adapted to rest lightly upon the left shoulder' of the wearer, thus `relieving the facepiece of any strain due to the weight of the canister and is maintained in position by two elastic straps I-2 and I3 secured to lugs I5 on the side ofthe canister. Strap I2 is connected to the facepiece 'I to the right of the casting 4, and strap I3 passes around the back of the neck of the wearer and is connected to the facepiece at the lower cheek with a separable catch I4 whereby it can be easily unhooked for removal.l An adjustable buckle is provided on eachstrap I2 and I3 so the canister can be correctly and comfortably.

positioned. The canister is attached to the straps I2 and I3 by means of lugs I5 on the canister.

With the shoulder position, the weight of the canister is ,carried in a natural position on the shoulder and the canister slides lightly onI the shoulder when the head is turned. The adjust- 10 able elastic straps prevent excessive movement of short hose 8, thus minimizing the possibility of snagging when vthe wearer is advancing through underbrush; also this position allows fording a stream without immersion of the canister.

When the canister is carried under the arm, as is'common in prior practice, the canister may swing forward to a position in front of the wearer when he is falling prone; also when the wearer rolls over he must roll over the canister. The shoulder position avoids these difficulties, which is an important consideration for a soldier. Furthermore, thepacking of the facepiece and canister is facilitated by this arrangement due to the short hose, there is less resistance to air flow, the weight is less than prior constructionswith decreased cost. Also in packing, the shoulder positioned canister may be readily slipped into the facepiece to thus function as a faceform and prevent distortion of the facepiece. i y The above and other advantages follow from the construction herein shown and described. It

will be understood that this invention is not confined to the precise details of construction herein shown for purposes of illustration, as various `changes may be made without departing from l the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of a wearer, and an air-'purifying canister, said 45 canister being connected to the facepiece at separated points and adapted torest upon the shoulder of thev wearer.

2. A gasl mask comprising a facepiece, means to hold the facepiece in engagement with the face of a wearer, and an air-purifying canister, said canister having two flexible straps secured thereto, said straps being connected to the facepiece at opposite cheek portions, one strap adapted to pass around the back of the wearers neck.

and canister, said straps being so arranged andsecured that the pull thereof on the facepiece causes the rim of the facepiece to engage the face in a gas-tight manner.

4. The invention asde'ned invclaim 3, wherein said straps are of elastic material. 1 a

5. The invention as defined in claim 3,\wherein one of saidstraps has a quick detachable fastener whereby the facepiece may berreadily put on and removed.

,e 6. A gas mask comprising a facepiece, means to hold the facepiece in engagement with the face of a wearer, and an air-purifying canister, said canister being positioned to one side of the facepiece and adapted to rest on the wearers shoulder, said canister having two elastic straps secured thereto, one strap secured to the adjacent portion of the facepiece, the other strap .adapted to pass around the back of the neck and secured to the facepiece at the lower cheekv portion, and means to adjust the length of each strap.

'7. 'I'he invention as defined in claim 6, wherein the strap adapted to pass around the back of the neck has a readily separable fastener therein.

ARMAND v. Mo'rsmGER. 

